Legislation introduced to repeal controversial California glove law

California’s controversial glove law has riled up chefs and bartenders across the state. And now, it looks like it might not be long for this world.

On Monday, Richard Pan, M.D. — the State Assemblymember who is also the chair of the Health Committee — announced emergency legislation to repeal AB1252 Section 113961, a.k.a. the health code amendment that bans bare-handed contact in restaurants and bars. It’s a big turnaround for the Health Committee, which was the same group that put the law into effect on January 1.

Dr. Pan actually introduced the new legislation prior to the Feb. 21 deadline, and since it’s classified as emergency legislation, it would conceivably take effect before the state’s six-month grace period on enforcing the law expires. So, in essence, it would nullify the law.

Iso Rabins of Forage SF and Josh Miller both startedpetitions to repeal the law, rallying the chef and bartender communities, respectively; together, they have amassed over 18,000 signatures. The two parties were coordinating strategies when Miller went to meet with Dr. Pan recently. Turns out Pan was one step ahead.

“When Josh went to talk to him, he was all set to repeal the law,” says Rabins. “I think the opposition took him by surprise because the type of bill was supposed to be non-controversial. There was supposed to be nothing in there that anyone would dislike.

“He sees. He’s a doctor,” says Rabins, as he paraphrases some of Pan’s thoughts from earlier today: “Gloves don’t keep people safe. It’s the surface. Gloves can be just as dirty as hands.”

The emergency legislation needs two-thirds majority vote to pass. A date is not yet set for the vote; no opposition in Sacramento has voiced itself to this point. Stay tuned.